Automatic valve



June 6, 1950 N. l.. wlcKs 2,510,488

AUTOMATIC VALVE 2 sheets-'sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1946 INVENTogz, ,/l/o/f//za/z L. )566k 5.

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June 6, 1950 N. L. wlcKs 2,510,488

AUTOMATIC VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1946 INVENToR, Joram/7L BY I #from/frs Patented June 6, 1950 UNITED STATESA PATENT oFFicE AUTOMATIC VALVE Norman L. Wicks, Sacramento, Calif'. Application May Y8, 1946, Serial No. 668,281 Claims. (Cl. 137-145) This invention relates to an automatic valve mechanism used in connection with an underground or surface sprinkler system or systems.

An object of the invention is the construction of a simple and efficient valve mechanism for controlling the flow of water through the sprinkler system.

#Another objec of the invention is the provision of an automatic valve mechanism in which two ball-like units are employed in controlling the opening and closing of a valve unit of a sprinkler system.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of an automatic valve mechanism that comprises a minimum number of parts, efcient in operation, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

vWith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts asV will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more par-` ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

yIn the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in sideV elevation of a mechanism constructed .in vaccordance -with the present invention, showing the primary valvein a closed position, while Figure 2 is a similar view, showing said valve in an open position.

- Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism, showing particularly the hollow ball. l Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing particularly the yoke device. Y

. Figure 5 is an enlarged view partly in eleva tion and partly in vertical section, of the primary valve. f l

Figure 6 is an 6 6, Fig. 1 ,and looking arrows.^ v Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, I `designates the primary valve casing which is enlarged plan view .taken on line inthe direction of the lprovided with a depending externally-threaded extension 2, and with a horizontal laterally eX- tending Vexternally-threaded `extension 3. An auxiliary valvecasing 4 is detachably mounted on valve casing I. A vertically slidable valve 5 is mounted in valve casing I, this valve being pron vided with a stem Ii having an integral head or cap 1. A bifurcated bracket 8 extends from the side of the valve casing I and a valve lever 9 is pivotally mounted upon said bracket 8. 'I'he valve lever 9 is bifurcated at its outer end Il), and `straddles the valve stem 6, under cap l.

A yoke device I I, Fig. 4, is provided with a pair of arms I2, and a depending stem I3. Stern I3 has a slot I4 into which extends the inner end of valve lever 9. By means of a bolt I5 said yoke device II is pivotally mounted upon said valve lever 9. A bolt I6 is mounted upon the lower end of stem I3, and the inner end of said bolt IS is adapted to engage bracket 8 when the mechanism is in an open position, `as clearly shown in Figure 2.

A rod or shaft I'I is employed with fixed co1- lars I8 and I9 thereon. |These collars are adjustable longitudinally of shaft I1 for eicient operation of the mechanism. Each collar i9 is provided with a screw for retaining the collar in a fixed adjusted position upon shaft Il. A slidable sleeve 2l is mounted upon shaft I1 between collars I8 and I9. The arms I2 of yoke device I I are provided with screw-bolts 22, Fig. 4, the inner ends of which engage suitable bearings 23 on sleeve 2 I, whereby sleeve 2I is capable of pivotal movement upon the yoke device il. Lock nuts 24 are on the bolts 22, against arms I2 for holding the bolts in an adjusted position. A coil spring 25 is on shaft Il between sleeve 2l and collar I9.

A hollow container or ball 26 is detachably mounted on one end-of shaft I1 and a ball-like weight 2 is detachablyA mounted on the other end of shaft Il. The ball-like weight 2l is attened at 28. The hollow container of ball 25 is provided with a pet cock 29 for draining the ball 2S, as hereinafter described. A suitable hose 39 is connected at one end to valve casing II, and at its other end it is connected to the container or ball 26, as shown in Figure 3. A manually operated valve 3| is mounted upon valve casing Il for controlling the amount of waigelthat is permitted to pass through hose 30 into hollow ball 26.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows: The extension 2 is attached to a water supply. The water is intended to pass up and through the casing, including extension 3 into the sprinkler system. When the mechanism is in the open position as shown in Figure 2, the valve 5 is in a raised position thus allowing the water to ow into the sprinkler system, and at the same time water is passing through hose 3D into the hollow ball 25. The amount of water passing through hose 39 can be manually controlled by adjusting valve 3 I. When the water in ball 2S is of sufficient quantity, the weight thereof overbalances weight 21 and causes a counterclockwise rotation of sleeve 2l about .bolts 22 until sleeve 2| engages yoke device I I. 'I he yoke arm and container then moves forward as aunt until the stem- I 3 engages upon valve lever 9, which is pivotally mounted upon bracket 8. Continued movement of the container 25, yoke II, and lever arm 9 then causes the lever arm 9 to apply pressure to the valve 5 to eiect its closing. Closing of the valve shuts oi water through the valve casing I and hose 30. When the valve 5 has closed, the weight of the water in the container 26 will cause a sliding movement of the shaft If! in the sleeve 2 I, causing spring 5` to be compressed. At the same time the valve 5 willbe again in an open position, thus L allowing thewater to pass to the sprinkler system, and also water to passV to yball 2`6`; This cycle of movement is automatically repeated for the efcient watering or sprinkling operation. The

rapidity of the cycle of movement` is controlled by 'fthe operator, by the degree to which he adjusts the pet cock 29 and the valve 3l.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention and illustrated the sa me in the accompanying drawings, kcertain minor l' changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the rightto'lmake such ehanges or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic valve mechanism, the coinbination of a valve casing, a movable valve within said casing, a valve lever movably engaging at its inner end said valveV for opening and yclosing saidY valve when movement is imparted to said, valve lever, means pivotally supporting said valve lever between its ends on saidvalvecasing, av'yke device pivotally mounted ori thel outer end of said valve lever, whereby 'movement of said y'ke device will c'au'se movement of said valve lever and said valve, a shaft and meansv pivotally connect'- ing same near its middle to the outer end of lsaid Yyoke device, said shaft provided with two ends, a

container secured to one' end Iof said shaft, a weight secured to the other end of said shfaft, a hose in communication at one end with the in#- terior of said valve casing downstream of said valve and at its other end in yconfmiun'ication with the interior of said container, and 'an exhaust cock on said container the arrangement being such that when the weight of thecontainer and its lcontents exceeds that of the weight', the valve will be moved to `closed position and when vthe weight of the container and itsfcontents is less than that of the weight, the Valve will be moved to open position. 2. In an automatic valve mechanism,dthe combination of a valve casing, a movable valve within said casing, a valve lever movably engaging at its inner end said valvefror openingand closing said valve when movement lis imparted to said valve lever, means pivotally supporting said valve lever between its ends on saidV valve 4c `:as'ing, a v yoke device having one end ofsaid valve lever therein, means pivotally connecting said yoke devicerand valve lever, said yoke devicebeing provided with ay pair of arms, a shaftpo'sitioned nearwits middle between said pair of arms, means carried 'by said arms plvotally supporting said shaft upon said yoke device, said shaft provided with two ends, a container secured to one end of said shaft, a weight secured to the other end of said shaft, a hose in communication at one end with the interior if said valve casing and downstream of said valve and at its other end in communication with the interior of said container, and an exhaust cock on said containerthe arrangement being such that when the weight of the 4container and its contents exceeds that of the weight, the valve will be moved to closed position and when the weight of the container and its contents is less than that of the weight, the valve will be moved to open position.

3. In an automatic valve mechanism, the combination of a valvecasing, a movable valve within said casing, a valve lever` movably engaging at its inner end said valve for opening and closing said valve when movement is impartedl to said valve lever, means pivetally supportingfs'aid valve lever between its ends on said valve casing, 'a yoke deL vice pivot-ally mounted on the" outer end of said valve lever, whereby movement of said yoke'de` vice records movement of said'valve lever' andsaid valve', a shaft provided with a sliding sleeve, means pivotally connecting said yoke device to's'adsleeve, collars iiedly secured to 'said shaft', said sliding sleeve between said collars, and said sleeve normally engaging one of said collars; a coiled spring on said shaft between said sliding sleeve and one of said collars, said shaft provided with two ends, a' container on oneend and a weight on the other end of said shaft,vmeans for conveying liquid from said v'a1ve'c`asingdownstrar'f said valve to said container, and eXhaiis't meansfony said container the arrangement being schthat when the weightof the container and its oo nt'ents exceeds that of the vv'ei'gl'it:l thel valve will moved to closed position andpwh'en the weight off the container and its eontentsis less than that o'f the weight, the valve will be moved toopen posi tion.

J1-laan eutqmeii Valvemeflsrg, the .cmbination of a slidingvalvesoasing, a slidingvalve withinsaid casing,said'slidingvahfe wldedw a stem outside of said sliding valve casin ve' .Sia V211. lever provided with an innerwbifurcated AYendl straddling said valve stem, means pivot'ally s11115- porting said valve lever between its ends 'onsaid sliding valve casinga yokeon the )outer 'end of said valve leven means extending ythrough apory tion of said yokedevice'an'dthronghra 'portion f Said valvelever pvotallvjicornectins Saidyalve lei/erano yoke device', ,Said vokeld'evljc .provided with spaced arms, a sie-eve and means pivots-'uy supporting said sleeve kupon lsaidyarms, 1a shaft slidably mounted within*said sliding sleeve, a spring supported by said shaft and 'normally pressing against saidsliding sleeve, a container on onev end of saidl shaft and la weight on o hler end of said shaft, and means 'forfsu'pplyingliguid from said valve casing downstreamyorsaid valve to said container, and means for exhausingjli uid out of said container thearrangem t'beinglsuch that whe'nthe Weishtjf the cantal. 11 andjts' contents exceeds that'of the weight, the valve willl be moved toclosedposition and when of the container'and its contents' 1A of therweight, the valve will be mo position- Y. an automatic valvefmechanism, thejcom'y hinaticn of a valve casin'gprovi 4with a sliding valve therein, a valveslevfer 'havingoneendjeN-f gaging said sliding valve 'for operating thesarii simetra# vedv to open within said valve casing, means pivotally supporting said valve lever upon said valve casing, a yoke device pivotally mounted on the outer end of said valve lever, a shaft and means pivotally and slidably connecting said shaft to the outer end of said yoke device, said shaft provided at one end with a container and at its other end with a Weight, and means for conductingr liquid from said valve casing downstream of said valve to said container. and means for exhausing liquid from said container the arrangement being such that when the Weight of the container and its contents exceeds that of the weight, the valve will be moved to closed position and when the Weight of the container and its contents is less than that ofV the weight, the valve will be moved to open position.

NORMAN L. WICKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

